Future MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Will Stand 3 Years from Now

Future MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Will Stand 3 Years from Now

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There’s less than two months remaining in the regular season, but the playoff races in both leagues are anything but decided.

However, because we focus more on the future of baseball rather than the present here at Prospect Pipeline, we thought we’d explore how all 30 teams might fare three years from now in 2017.

We looked at the following criteria in order to appropriately rank each team:

Current Contracts: Players signed through 2017, including those with options for that year and beyond.

Upcoming Free Agents: Players who will become free agents before the 2017 season.

Upcoming Arbitration-Eligible Players: Players under team control through 2017 who will enter their first year of arbitration; MLB players only.

Notable 2014 Rookies: Rookies who have debuted and contributed in the major leagues this season; first year of arbitration is yet to be established.

Impact Prospects: Prospects who are expected to make an impact before the end of 2017 and would currently rank in the top 100 overall.

Now, it’s important to remember that these rankings do not take into account any future free-agent signings or trades. Instead, we focused on the aspects that are predictable but still have the potential to influence a team's future success.

With all that being said, here is our ranking of where all 30 teams will stand three years from now.

After 2015: LHP Cliff Lee (plus 2016 club option with a possible guarantee)

After 2017: OF Ben Revere

Upcoming Arbitration-Eligible Players

2015: OF Domonic Brown

2017: 3B Cody Asche, 1B Darin Ruf

Notable 2014 Rookies

RHP Ken Giles

Impact Prospects

SS J.P. Crawford, RHP Aaron Nola, 3B Maikel Franco

2017 Outlook: The Phillies' days as a perennial contender are behind them, though they apparently refuse to believe it. The organization has wasted countless opportunities to rebuild by trading away attractive trade chips such as Utley, Cliff Lee and Hamels, and it now faces a potential turnover, which could last well beyond the 2017 season.

2017 Outlook: The Giants’ current roster is a shell of what it was when it won the World Series in 2010 and 2012, though that was expected given the natural turnover within the organization. The team has done a good job locking up its best long-term assets in Bumgarner, Posey, Pence and Cain, but will have new holes to fill in the coming years should it lose Sandoval, Peavy and Lincecum to free agency.

Unfortunately, the Giants’ lack of positional depth on the farm means they will have to pursue free agents and trades moving forward to improve both the infield and outfield.

28. Milwaukee Brewers

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Current Contracts

RHP Matt Garza (4 years/$50M for 2014-17, plus 2018 option)

OF Ryan Braun (5 years/$105M for 2016-20, plus 2021 mutual option)

C Jonathan Lucroy (5 years/$11M for 2012-16, plus 2017 option)

Upcoming Free Agents

After 2014: RHP Yovani Gallardo (2015 team option)

After 2015: OF Gerardo Parra

After 2016: OF Carlos Gomez

Upcoming Arbitration-Eligible Players

2016: SS Jean Segura, RHP Wily Peralta, LHP Will Smith

2017: 2B Scooter Gennett, OF Khris Davis, RHP Jimmy Nelson

Notable 2014 Rookies

LHP Wei-Chung Wang

Impact Prospects

OF Tyrone Taylor

2017 Outlook: The Brewers have been a pleasant surprise this season, as they got off to a hot start and since have maintained a lead over the Cardinals, Pirates and Reds in the NL Central. However, given the contracts given to Braun, Lucroy, Gomez and Garza, the team is better prepared for success in the next year or two rather than 2017.

2017 Outlook: Like many other teams, especially those in the AL East, the Blue Jays are going for it this year, as it’s the last time they’ll have a solid positional core of Reyes, Cabrera, Encarnacion and Bautista, provided they decide not to re-sign or extend any of them.

However, Toronto’s high-octane offense can only carry the team so far, which means it’ll need to focus on improving the rotation and bullpen moving forward. Stroman, Sanchez and Norris are all promising pitching prospects, but it'd be a mistake for the organization to rely solely on inexperienced arms while its window for success is still open.

Regardless of how they ultimately fare this season, it’s hard to see the Blue Jays competing for a postseason berth in 2017.

2017 Outlook: The Orioles have only two players locked up through 2017 (Jones and Jimenez), while the rest of the team’s current roster are free-agent eligible in the next two years (Hardy, Markakis, Cruz, Davis) or under team control for the foreseeable future (Tillman, Machado, Schoop, Bundy, Gausman). Therefore, Baltimore’s window for success in 2017 isn’t nearly as appealing as it is in 2014 and '15.

25. Oakland Athletics

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Current Contracts

OF Coco Crisp (2 years/$22M for 2015-16, plus 2017 option)

LHP Sean Doolittle (5 years/$10.5M for 2014-18, plus 2019-20 options)

Upcoming Free Agents

After 2014: LHP Jon Lester, RHP Luke Gregerson, SS Jed Lowrie

After 2015: LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Jeff Samardzija

After 2016: 1B/OF/DH Brandon Moss

Upcoming Arbitration-Eligible Players

2015: 3B Josh Donaldson, RHP Jarrod Parker

2016: C Derek Norris, OF Josh Reddick, RHP A.J. Griffin

2017: RHP Sonny Gray

Notable 2014 Rookies

None

Impact Prospects

SS Daniel Robertson, 3B Renato Nunez

2017 Outlook: The A’s activity before the non-waiver trade deadline—specifically, trading prospects Addison Russell and Billy McKinney, and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes for front-line starters Samardzija and Lester—highlights that the team is all-in for 2014, while the subsequent years will be used to rebuild both the system and major league roster.

It’s hard to discount the A’s formula for success even when the team is going through a “down year,” but I wouldn’t expect them to be in the playoff hunt in 2017.

2017 Outlook: The Padres have taken steps to get back on track over the last year-plus by drafting high-probability players and moving their best trade chips for young major league players.

Yet, while the Padres’ starting rotation continues to serve as its strength, the team’s offense still has a ways to go in becoming a formidable, run-scoring threat. That being said, they have actively worked to improve their squad for future seasons, and 2017 could be the year they return to relevancy in the NL West.

2017 Outlook: Besides Goldschmidt, who is signed through at least 2018, the Diamondbacks have too much money locked up in players who don’t fit their long-term timeline. They were able to free up some money by dealing Martin Prado and Gerardo Parra before the non-waiver deadline, which could be useful toward signing Miley, Owings or Pollock to pre-arbitration contract extensions.

Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks should receive significant contributions, both on the mound and at the dish, from their farm system over the next few years. They also have enough overall depth to make a trade if need be. If the organization can make more decisions that fit its long-term agenda in the coming years, then I believe it could be in the mix for a playoff spot in 2017.

2017 Outlook: The Mariners have done nearly everything in their power to buy a spot in the 2014 playoffs, which is understandable, considering that Cano and King Felix’s prime seasons are slipping away.

The organization has a solid mix of high-ceiling and high–floor players, many of whom are extension candidates, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see some of those guys traded in the coming years so as to achieve more immediate success. Regardless, it’s hard to see the Mariners fielding as competitive of a team in 2017 as they do at the present.

2017 Outlook: The Rockies got off to a terrific start this year but gradually have fallen apart due both to injuries and poor performances as the season has unfolded. There’s a realistic chance that neither Tulo nor CarGo will be around in 2017, though that could potentially free up money to lock up Arenado, Rosario or Blackmon.

Still, the team will need top prospects such as Gray, Dahl, Tapia and Freeland to pan out in order to compete with Dodgers in 2017.

20. Los Angeles Angels

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Current Contracts

1B Albert Pujols (10 years/$240M for 2012-21)

OF Josh Hamilton (5 years/$125M for 2013-17)

OF Mike Trout (6 years/$144.5M for 2015-20)

Upcoming Free Agents

After 2015: 2B Howie Kendrick, RHP Huston Street (2015 team option)

After 2016: SS Erick Aybar, LHP C.J. Wilson, RHP Jered Weaver

Upcoming Arbitration-Eligible Players

2015: C Hank Conger, RHP Garrett Richards, LHP Hector Santiago

2017: OF Kole Calhoun, LHP Tyler Skaggs

Notable 2014 Rookies

1B C.J. Cron, RHP Cam Bedrosian

Impact Prospects

LHP Sean Newcomb

2017 Outlook: Though the Angels have Trout and Pujols locked up through at least 2020, the team is set to lose Kendrick, Aybar, Wilson and Weaver to free agency before 2017, which is why Los Angeles will be more inclined to go for broke in the coming years rather than take a long-term approach.

2017 Outlook: Given the players the Royals have under contract as well as those nearing arbitration, all signs point to the team contending for a postseason berth in 2014 and 2015 rather than 2017. That’s not to say Kansas City will be a poor team in three years; rather, the lack of consistency from players such as Hosmer and Moustakas and the overall risk of its top prospects makes it hard to predict the team’s progress over the next several seasons.

2017 Outlook: The state of the Marlins moving forward will depend entirely on whether the team can reach a contract extension with Stanton, who will become a free agent following the 2016 season.

The organization should be in a good position to succeed in 2017 if it can lock up Stanton (and Fernandez) long term, as it also has a deep cast of young players on both sides of the ball that should be entering their primes within the next three years.

2017 Outlook: The Reds technically are considered a small-market team, but the club’s ability in recent years to lock up stars like Votto, Phillips, Bailey and Bruce suggests it believes it’ll be a perennial contender.

However, the Reds' success in 2017 will still depend on whether they extend Cueto and Chapman, both of whom have team options in 2015, and lock up pre-arbitration players like Mesoraco, Frazier and Hamilton.

It’s also worth noting that Cincinnati has a trio of potential impact prospects in Stephenson, Winker and Lorezen, who should be fixtures on the big league roster in a matter of three years

2017 Outlook: The Twins don’t have long-term assets other than Dozier and Gibson on their current roster, but the team does have a wealth of impact talent in the minor leagues, which should begin to arrive in 2015. With future stars such as Buxton, Sano, Meyer and Gordon, the Twins could be nearly rebuilt by 2017 and finally hitting their stride.

2017 Outlook: The Pirates’ success in 2017 will depend on whether they re-sign Walker and Alvarez and whether they add a shortstop or any young arms in the coming years. They have a wealth of young prospects working their way up the organizational ladder, many of whom could emerge as enticing trade bait for the right return.

Regardless, the Pirates have a system that should continue to grow stronger and fuel the team’s success at the highest level.

2017 Outlook: The Rangers have been plagued by injuries this season and will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year, but the future is very, very bright.

The team has most of its big-name players, pitchers and hitters, locked up beyond the 2017 season, and its collection of high-upside prospects arguably is among the best in the minor leagues. The Rangers will need to improve their rotation and bullpen in the coming years, but the team’s offense should be stacked in 2017.

13. Cleveland Indians

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Current Contracts

1B/OF Nick Swisher (4 years/$56M for 2013-16, plus 2017 option)

OF Michael Bourn (4 years/$48M for 2013-16, plus 2017 option)

C/3B Carlos Santana (5 years/$21.0019M for 2012-16, plus 2017 option)

OF Michael Brantley (4 years/$25M for 2014-17, plus 2018 option)

2B Jason Kipnis (6 years/$52.5M for 2014-19, plus 2020 option)

C Yan Gomes (6 years/$23M for 2014-19)

Upcoming Free Agents

None

Upcoming Arbitration-Eligible Players

2015: 3B Lonnie Chisenhall

2016: RHP Corey Kluber, RHP Cody Allen

2017: RHP Danny Salazar, RHP Trevor Bauer

Notable 2014 Rookies

LHP Kyle Crockett, 1B/DH Jesus Aguilar

Impact Prospects

SS Francisco Lindor, OF Clint Frazier, C Francisco Mejia

2017 Outlook: The Indians have remained competitive this season despite a shaky starting rotation—besides Kluber that is—which is a testament to the consistency of the team’s offense. The good news is that a majority of those hitters, such as Kipnis, Brantley and Gomes, still will be around in 2017, and the team should also have several impact prospects debut before then.

However, the Tribe’s pitching situation remains a legitimate concern and will need to be resolved before the team emerges as a true contender.

2017 Outlook: The White Sox have been trending up since Rick Hahn took over as general manager in mid-2012, as the organization has acquired a host of projectable young talent through trades, added impact prospects through the draft and signed its best players to team-friendly, long-term contracts.

The Pale Hose still have a ways to go to improve their starting rotation and bullpen, but I think there’s a decent chance they are in the playoff picture at this point during the 2017 season.

11. Washington Nationals

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Current Contracts

OF Jayson Werth (7 years/$126M for 2011-17)

3B Ryan Zimmerman (6 years/$100M for 2014-19, plus 2020 option)

LHP Gio Gonzalez (5 years/$42M for 2012-16, plus 2017-18 options)

Upcoming Free Agents

After 2015: SS Ian Desmond, RHP Jordan Zimmermann, RHP Doug Fister

After 2016: RHP Stephen Strasburg, C Wilson Ramos, RHP Drew Storen

Upcoming Arbitration-Eligible Players

2016: OF Bryce Harper (MLB contract)

2017: 3B/2B Anthony Rendon (MLB contract), RHP Tanner Roark

Notable 2014 Rookies

OF Steven Souza Jr., RHP Blake Treinen, RHP Aaron Barrett

Impact Prospects

RHP Lucas Giolito, RHP A.J. Cole, OF Michael Taylor, RHP Erick Fedde

2017 Outlook: Despite sporting one of baseball’s best and more complete teams in recent years, the Nats have continually disappointed in October. Once again, they are more poised for success now rather than later, as Desmond, Strasburg and Zimmermann are set to become free agents before 2017.

If the Nats can maintain a strong starting rotation moving forward and keep Harper healthy, the team could still be in the playoff hunt at this time in 2017.

2017 Outlook: The Yankees have an array of All-Stars such as Tanaka, Ellsbury, McCann and Gardner locked up through 2017, but by that time most of those players will be moving out of their primes.

Therefore, the team’s chances of success in 2017 likely will depend on its acquisitions between now and then, as most of its prospects are raw and/or blocked at the highest level and will require a few more years of seasoning in the minor leagues.

2017 Outlook: The Red Sox farm system thrives even when the team is having a down season at the major league level, which is why the Red Sox seemingly are only a year or two away from returning to the postseason.

Besides Pedroia, the Red Sox have little money locked up long term and therefore are likely to aggressively pursue free agents in the coming years. And if a few of its younger players develop as expected, Boston could be a playoff contender in 2017.

2017 Outlook: The Cubs organization has had its sights set on the future for a while now—basically since Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer took over before the 2012 season. With a pair of building blocks already in place in Castro and Rizzo, they can now let their impressive collection of impact prospects filter up into the major leagues.

That being said, not all of those players are likely to spend 2017 with the Cubs; there will come a time when the organization decides to trade from its prospect wealth in order to land impact starting pitchers. If things go to plan, then the Cubbies should be a relevant playoff team in three years.

2017 Outlook: The Tigers' recent acquisition of Price means that Scherzer will likely hit free agency after the season, and it’s hard to say how the organization will handle Porcello, who also will become a free agent after the current season. However, with Kinsler, Verlander, Cabrera and Sanchez locked up for the foreseeable future, the Tigers' window of opportunity should still be open in 2017.

2017 Outlook: The Astros have been completely rebuilt over the last few years, with GM Jeff Luhnow focusing on acquiring young, cost-controlled players through trades and stocking the farm through a series of successful drafts. Like the Cubs, the Astros still have countless pieces to add before the team emerges as a playoff threat, but if all goes as planned, that could happen as early as 2017.

2017 Outlook: The Mets may be the biggest sleeper in terms of 2017 success, as the team has one of the more projectable future rotations among all teams to go along with a promising crop of offensive prospects.

However, it will be crucial between now and then for the organization to lock up some of its top young players, whether it's Harvey, d’Arnaud, Wheeler, Syndergaard or deGrom. If all goes as planned, the Mets should be in the mix for a division title in 2017.

2017 Outlook: The Rays already have Longoria, Moore and Archer locked up well beyond 2017, and it’s only a matter of time until Cobb, Smyly and Myers are approached about contract extensions.

Meanwhile, the team will continue to do a remarkable job developing talent while trading high-profile players in return for long-term assets—because that’s the organization—which is why it's impossible to discount Tampa Bay's chances of postseason success in 2017.

2017 Outlook: Widely considered baseball’s model organization, the Cardinals are in a great position to compete for a World Series title in 2017, which could be the final year in the organization for many of the team's star-caliber players.

However, as is the case every year, the Cardinals have a slew of prospect poised to make an impact in the major leagues during upcoming seasons. And don’t be surprised if they lock up players such as Adams, Taveras and Wong long term by then.

2. Atlanta Braves

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Current Contracts

OF B.J. Upton (5 years/$72.25M for 2013-17)

RHP Craig Kimbrel (4 years/$42M for 2014-17, plus 2018 option)

1B Freddie Freeman (8 years/$135M for 2014-21)

3B Chris Johnson (3 years/$23.5M for 2015-17, plus 2018 option)

SS Andrelton Simmons (7 years/$58M for 2014-20)

RHP Julio Teheran (6 years/$32.4M for 2014-19, plus 2020 option)

Upcoming Free Agents

After 2015: OF Jason Heyward, OF Justin Upton

After 2017: LHP Mike Minor

Upcoming Arbitration-Eligible Players

2016: C Evan Gattis

2017: LHP Alex Wood, C Christian Bethancourt

Notable 2014 Rookies

2B Tommy La Stella, RHP Shae Simmons

Impact Prospects

2B Jose Peraza, RHP Lucas Sims

2017 Outlook: The Braves have a long window to win a World Series, as the team locked up cornerstones Freeman, Simmons, Kimbrel and Teheran long term prior to the season. With a new stadium and TV deal, the Braves are expected to be big-time spenders moving forward, and they’ll need to spend to improve the starting rotation.

They don’t have much on the farm at the moment, but Peraza, 20, has the makings of a top-of-the-order second baseman who can ignite the team’s offense. It wouldn’t be shocking if the Braves made a deep run into the playoffs in 2017.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

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Current Contracts

RHP Zack Greinke (6 years/$147M for 2013-18)

1B Adrian Gonzalez (7 years/$154M for 2012-18)

OF Matt Kemp (8 years/$160M for 2012-19)

OF Carl Crawford (7 years/$142M for 2011-17)

OF Andre Ethier (5 years/$85M for 2013-17, plus 2018 option)

LHP Clayton Kershaw (7 years/$215M for 2014-20)

2B Alex Guerrero (4 years/$28M for 2014-17)

LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (6 years/$36M for 2013-18)

OF Yasiel Puig (7 years/$42M for 2012-18)

SS Erisbel Arruebarruena (5 years/$25M for 2014-18)

Upcoming Free Agents

After 2014: SS Hanley Ramirez

After 2016: RHP Kenley Jansen

Upcoming Arbitration-Eligible Players

2015: 2B Dee Gordon

2016: OF/1B Scott Van Slyke

2017: RHP Chris Withrow

Notable 2014 Rookies

None

Impact Prospects

SS Corey Seager, LHP Julio Urias, OF Joc Pederson, RHP Grant Holmes

2017 Outlook: As you can see, the Dodgers will have most of their current star power still under contract through 2017, though they’re likely to shed some of those outfield contracts by then.

With a seemingly limitless payroll, the Dodgers will be players on any major free agent who hits the market in the next three years, and it's almost a foregone conclusion that they'll extend Ramirez and also lock up Gordon and Jansen.

Plus, they have a trio of young, impact prospects nearly ready to contribute.